Radiator



Jan. 19, 1932. R, TRANE '1,842218 RADIATOR Filed May 31, 1930 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES BE'UBEN N. TBANE, OF LA CBOSSE, 'WISCONSIN mDIA'roa appucaum med may 31, 1980. serial Na. 458,113.

My invention relates to an air fin type radiator wherein a multiplicity of thin and fragile metallic fins are mounted upon thin and fragile metallic heat tubes and supporting side and cross plates interposed to form a substantial independent structure which will supply a supporting and protective frame for the radiator. In the past air fin type radiators have'been constructed of substantial or heavy material which rendered further support unnecessary.

One of the objects of my invention is the production ofan airy fin type radiator to be strong enough to support additional weight and which is strong enough to withstand abuse and rough handling and at the same time prevent undue air leakage.

Another object of my linvention is a radiator with a supporting frame which will allow a free expansion of the radiator at diflerent temperatures.

The novel features of my invention are fully described in the following specification: Fig. 1 is a top view of an air fin type radiator.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an air fin typ radiator.

Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the supporting.

plates. ao

plates.

Fig. 5 is a top view of side plate and cross late structure independent of the tubes and 36 Referring to Fig. 1, the thin walled metallic-fins 10 are mounted upon thin walled metallic heat tubes 11. The heat tubes 11 are connected into headers 12 through which fiows the source of heat. The side plates' 13 are made of steel or other metal strong enough to withstand pressure and weight load and extend the entire' length of the heater occupied by the fins. To allow expanslon and contraction of the heating radiator wlthout influence of the side plates 13, the side plates 13 are not attached tol the headers 12, but' the side plates 13 are supported by a cross supporting member 14 composed of a sheet of metal substantially the same sizet'as the ex- 50 tended fin 10' but of muchgreater strength Fig. 4 is aside view of one of the supporting' and called cross plates. The supporting plate 14 is equipped with flanges 15 on either end of the plate and with the apertures 16 through which the heat tubes 11 pass. The middle cross plate is designated as 14 and the end 56 cross plates as 14'.

The cross plate 14 is mounted on the heat tubes having close contact, but not close enough to restrict or prevent movement of -the tubes through the cross plates and not 60 necessarily as close a contact as the fins have with the heat tubes 11. The cross plate 14 i is attached to the side plates 13 at 19 by electrio spot welding or by other suitable means The cross plate 14 is mounted upon the heat tubes 11 in a plane parallel to the flow of air through the heater and at substantially a right angle to the side'supporting plates 13 to allow a free passage of air.

The cross plates 14 and the side plates 13 form a supporting structure which is mounted on the heat tubes 11, and the cross plates 14 are mounted on the heat tubes 11 'close to the headers 12. It is apparent that if the cross plates are mounted on the tubes 11 close tov the head- 'ers 12, that the tubes 11 at a point close 'to the headers would support a much greater load and strain through the medium of the cross plates than were the cross plates mounted at a much farther distance from the headers.

The side plates 13 are also spaced from the edges of the fins 10 so that With any movement of the fins, the fins will not touch the side plates 13 so as to prevent an obj ectionable scraping noise upon expansion of the heater.

The metallic fins 10 are of thinmetallic substance approximately 5/1000 to 20/1000 of an inch in thickness, and the tubes 11 are thin walled metal tubes of a thickness ranging from 20/1000 to 85/1000. of-an inch in thickness.

V It is apparent in a structure such as this i that instead of headers, U bends in the ends of the tubes can be used'as well as headers. In operation the flow of the air will be through the heater in the direction' of the ar- .row 1,7 and will be in a manner similar to a convection type heater.

It is apparent, therefore, from this that there is a combined structure of the side 10 plates 13 and the supporting plates 14 which are mounted upon the heat tubes 11 and form a supporting ladder independent of the headers, which gives a great strength to the entire heating radiator to such an extent that it is possible for a erson to stand upon this radiator and not end it, notwithstanding the fact that the heat tubes 11 and the fins 10 are composed of thin metallic walls..

There is a space 18 between the cross plate 14 and the header 12 and the space 20 between the cross plate 14 and the fin 10 so that upon expansion of the tubes longitudinally due to increase of temperature and the difference inthe amount of change of temperature betweenthe tubes 11 and the side plates 13, that there is a freedom of motion of the heat tube 11 through the cross plate 14 without causing tension between the supporting frame and the radiator proper.l

When in use there is especially in six foot radiators a considerable difference in expansion between the tubes 11 and the side plates 13, due to diferences in temperature and the difference in co-eflicients of expansion in the different metals.

While I have shown my invention as embodied in the specific form shown and described and have suggested only the specific alternative, I contemplate that many changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An air fin type radiator, in combination, a multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on a multiplicit of thin walled metal heat tubes connecte into opposite headers, stifi' metal side plates, the side plates being spaced from the edge of said fins, in planes at an angle to the planes of the fins and spaced from each other and secured to each other by cross plates mounted on the heat tubes to form a protective frame for the radiator, the cross plates being flanged and secured to the side plates by means of said flanges.

2. An air fin type radiator, in combination, a multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on a multiplicity of thin walled metal heat tubes connected into opposite headers, stiif metal side lates in lanes at an angle to the planes of t `e fins and spaced from each other and secured to each other by cross plates mounted on the heat tubes to form a protective frame for the radiator, the cross plates being flanged andrsecured to the side plates by means of said flanges, being independent of the headers, the side plates being spaced from the edge of said fins.

3. An air fin type radiator, in combination, a multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on a multiplicit of thin walled metal heat tubes connecte into opposite headers, a supportin frame compr'ising stifi side pilates space from the edge of the finsand om each other and secured to each o'ther .'to the planes of t e fins an narazie by stifi metal cross plates mounted on the heat tubes the side plates being unattached to the hea ers.

4. An air fin type radiator, in combination, a multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on a multiplicity of thin walled metal heat tubes, connected into opposite headers, an independent supporting frame comprising still' metal side plates attached to stifi metal cross plates mounted on the heat tubes close to the headers but independent of the headers, with sutficient clearances to allow the free expansion and contraction of the heat tube through the cross plates when there is a difference in temperature between the supporting frame and the heat tubes.

5. An air fin type radiator, in combination, a multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on amultiplicity of thin walled metal heat tubes connected into opposite headers, stif metal side plates in planes at an angle to the planes of the fins andV spaced from each other and secured to each other by cross plates mounted on the heat tubes, at least one of said cross plates being spaced front said headers and intermediate thereof to form a supportingframe for the radiator to prevent bending of said heat tubes.

6. An air fin type radiator, in combination, a multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on a multiplicity`of thin walled metal heat tubes connectedinto opposite headers, stiif metal side plates, parallel to each other and to the, heat tubesand at right angles to the fins, the side plates secured to each other by cross plates, apertures in the cross plates and heat tubes assing through said apertures, one of saidP cross plates being mounted on said heat tubes intermediate the said headers to prevent bending ofl said heat tubes.

7. An air fin type radiator, in combination, a multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on a multiplicity of thin walled metal heat tubes connected into opposite headers, stiff metal side plates parallel to each other and to the heat tubes and at right angles to the fins, the side plates being independent of the headers, secured to each other'by cross plates, apertures in the cross plates and heat tubes passing through said apertures, one of said cross plates being mounted between said fins and on said heat tubes to prevent said heat tubes from sagging.

8. An air fin type radiator, in combination, a multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on a multiplicity of thin walled metal heat tubes, stif metal side lates in lanes at an :mgle

dspaced from each other and secured to each other by flangid cross plates mounted on the heat tubes tween said fins, to form a supporting frame 'for the radiator, preventing said heat tubes from saggin 9. An air type radiator, in combination,

a multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on a multiplicity of thin walled metalheat tubes connected into opposite headers a. supporting frame compnsm stiif side plates spaced from the edge of the and from each other and secured to each other by stifi metal cross plates, at least one of said cross plates being mounted ilaterall on the heat tubes intermediate the said eaders, to form a supporting frame for said radiator and to prevent bendin g of the heat tubes.

10.- An interchanger, -in combination, a

multiplicity of thin metal fins mounted on a multiplicity of thin wall metal heat exchange tubes, stifl metal side plates mounted on said heat exchanger by means of cross plates, said cross plates being slidably mounted on the said heat exchange tubes, at least one of said cross plates being mounted intermediate the t end to form a supporting frame for fthe radiator and prevent sagin of the heat tubes. Inwitness whereo I ereunto' subsc'ribe my name this 28 da of May 1930.

R UBEN iz. TRANE. 

